pope benedict the xvith is a man of conscious. if you read the statement that he made today at the consistery he said he prayed over this and he had come to the view that he could no longer give the church the service it required and tlf as may 28th, at 8:00 p.m., the seat is to be vacated and that means that the college of cardinals should proceed to elect a new pope. as claudio said a moment ago, it is a surprise as to timing but not a surprise to fact. benedict xvith on several occasions and most recently in the book "light of the world" indicated if he ever came to the conscientious view that he couldn't give the church what the church deserved, then he would step out of the way. this is a man of real humility here, we have to say. >> and it is clear that he decided to put the best interests of the church ahead of himself when you read that statement, and you can't help but take away that fact. so he, himself, seems to be saying, sending a message to the college of cardinals that you need somebody younger, and you need somebod